Super Short Summary

The German War: A Nation Under Arms, 1939-1945 by Nicholas Stargardt explores the reasons behind the sustained support of ordinary Germans for World War II, even as they recognized the inevitability of Allied victory and the atrocities committed in their name. The book chronicles their experiences, shaped by patriotism, propaganda, and a complex moral landscape, detailing how their beliefs and actions evolved throughout the conflict, resulting in a deep sense of complicity and an inability to contemplate surrender. This book contains discussions of genocide, mass murder, and violence.